Gas Hydrates

Many areas of the western Barents Sea host shallow as well as deep-seated hydrocarbon accumulations from which fluids are migrating to the sea floor. Evidence of past episodes of gas migration can be seen in the form of pockmarks on the sea floor as well as vertical pipes or chimneys on seismic sections.

This lecture presents the findings of recent international gas hydrate exploration efforts that are using new advanced technologies to identify and characterize the properties of gas hydrate prospects. Case studies from the Alaska North Slope, Gulf of Mexico, Japan and India demonstrate how standard oilfield technologies are helping to identify and evaluate gas hydrate accumulations.

The Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02 (NGHP-02) was conducted from 3-March-2015 to 28-July-2015 off the eastern coast of India. The primary goal of this expedition was the exploration and discovery of highly saturated gas hydrate occurrences in sand reservoirs that would be targets of future production testing.

It has been suggested that gas hydrates may represent an important future source of energy; however, much remains to be learned about their characteristics and occurrence in nature. This lecture reviews recent successes in exploration and production of natural gas from gas hydrate accumulations.

The study of gas hydrates in nature has been ongoing for over 40 years. Significant strides have been made in our understanding of the occurrence, distribution, and characteristics of marine and permafrost associated gas hydrates.

There are a surprising number of AAPG Members (new and experienced) who are not familiar with the technical divisions of AAPG and what they do. Given how much excellent work is done in the divisions, everyone is encouraged to learn more about them.